Surfbirds News

“It has been a real conservation success story. To see the Zululand Birding Route reach 10 years is testament to how simple and effective the avitourism [birding ecotourism] concept has been in this case,” said Duncan Pritchard, BirdLife South Africa Avitourism Division Manager. “There have been winners all round: local economies, jobs, education and, of course, the birds.”

Pel's Fishing Owl, South Africa, Lower Mkuzi July 2005 © Adrian Jordi

Celebrations for the anniversary took place over three days and included guided tours of the Birding Route, a film festival, Bird Fair and a Forest Birders Camp.

The ZBR initiative has received appraisal globally for combining economic benefits to local communities (through “birder-friendly” establishments and local bird guides) with environmental benefits relating to habitat protection and bird conservation. The ZBR, along with the established Greater Limpopo Birding Route, are worth an estimated ZAR 50 million (USD 6.8million) per year in direct economic value to the South African region.

Conservationists have pointed out that many of the 70 top ‘birding sites’ on the ZBR have been saved by this economic incentive toward conserving sites important for birds and biodiversity.

“Our conservation efforts have certainly been strengthened by this investment. Importantly we’ve also seen an overall increase in bird appreciation from tourists and local communities themselves – this is a crucial ingredient in saving species from extinction.” commented Pritchard.

The initiative has been pioneered by BirdLife South Africa, who have provided training to local bird guides across Birding Routes, and marketed to tourists via BirdLife Travel, a specialist travel agency set up by BirdLife South Africa to plan itineraries that take in Important Bird Areas.

“Our continued support for the Birding Route concept is founded on an appreciation that this approach demonstrates an effective integration of biodiversity conservation into sustainable development initiatives that are adaptable to a variety of locations and contexts,” said Jonathan Stacey, Rio Tinto-BirdLife International Programme Manager.

The project’s success is the result of a wide variety of stakeholder support, including corporates such as Rio Tinto and its local business, Richards Bay Minerals, as well as local government structures such as Uthungulu District Municipality.

“The ZBR is the product of partnership,” said Stacey. “Those many organisations who have supported its development can feel confident that, as it continues into the future, a working link has been created between such supporters and those communities that ultimately will uphold the conservation of birds and their habitats.”

For further details visit www.zbr.co.za or BirdLife South Africa, www.birdlife.org.za

For more information on the Zululand Birding Route, see this month’s World Birdwatch Feature, BirdLife South Africa is growing routes.